Taxicab-call system and apparatus.



E. H. KELLEY. TAXICAB CALL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

4 1, I v Patented May2,1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Z I V G a 0% A i A V v INVENTOR- AT DRIVE? E. H. KELLEY.

TAXICAB CALL SYSTEM ANDAPPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. 1910.

Patented May 2,1916.

8 SHEETSSHEET 2- W coooo qgo 0000 O0 LII;

I ll) T HILL,

WITNESSES:

E. H. KELLEY.

TAXICAB CALL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

v A APPLICATION FILED IUNEZT, 1910.

Patented May 2, 1916.

m NVEIVTO RI By 3 M6 AQTTOR EV 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3- E. H. KELLEY.

TAXICAB CALL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZY, 1910.

1,181,461, Patented May2,191($.

. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 4- W/T/VESSES: V v A w l/VI/f/VTOR 1,181,461. Patented May 2,1916.

E. H. KELLEY.

TAXICAB CALL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. 1910.

8 SHEETSSHEET 5.

5: 1 I I I WIN/E8858: l H yl/Wi/WOR:

ATTO men E. H. KELLEY.

TAXICAB CALL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 19l0. 1,151 461 Patented May 2,1916.

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1 g INT 7/ 60 INVENTOR 1 1177 HIL'EV.

E. H KELLEY.

TAXICAB CALL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, I910- l 9 1 8 1A 1 Patented May 2, 1916.

8 SHEETSSHEET 7 &

WITNESSES.

.E. H. KELLEY. TAXICAB CALL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE27. 1910. 1,181,461. Patented May2,1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET B. 3'

INTO/1W w listen.

ELIAS H. KELLEY, or; NEW YORK, n. Y.

Tureen-cant 'srs'rnm AND arranimis.

This invention relates'to vehiclecall sys-' tems and to the apparatus employed therein,

- and has particular reference'to a taxicabcall system or method and a special apparatus exemplifying that system.

Among the objects of my'invention may be noted the following: to provide a coincontrolled apparatus by means, of which, for example, a signal or call-box of the A. D. T. type can be operated to produce a signal or message at a given station for the purpose of obtaining the services of vehicles of any kind desired; to provide a combination of means under coin control whereby signals can be transmitted for the purpose of obtaining services of various kinds; to provide an apparatus of the general type set forth in my. pending application, Serial No. 533,638, filed December 17, 1909, with an auxiliary device by means of which signals can be transmitted to dis tant points for any desired purpose; to provide a call-system adapted to various purposes, such as taxicabs, or other vehicles; and to providea method, which .I have chosen to term'taxicab call system, by which, with a coin of proper denomination put into use at one point or station, the transmission of a, signal can be effected, whereby the services of taxicabs can be secured.

With the above objects in view, and others which will be detailed during the course of this description, my invention consists in the apparatus, combinations of apparatus, system of means, and elements and combinations of elements entering into said apparatus and system, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my system and idea of means may be thoroughly understood, the same will be explained in connection with drawings forming a part of this application, wherein Figure l is a vertical section of my apparatus taken on the line 11 of Fig. 5 and looking inthe direction of the arrows in the latter figure; Fig. 9. is a vertical sec-- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June 27, 1910. Serial No. 568,953.

Patented May-2, 1916.

tion'i taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows in the latter figure; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section takenjust above the parts carried by the driving-shaft ofthe machine; Fig. l is a vertical section taken on the line fl'l of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows in the latter figure; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line '5-5 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows of the latter figure; Fig. 6 is" a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 6'-6 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows in the latter figure; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the driving-clutch of the machine; Fig. '8. is a sectional elevation of the. magnetic controlling device for the coin-slide; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the coin-slide; Fig. 10 is a plan of the ticket delivered by the machine; Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of the clutch-operating mechanism and of one. of

the coin-testing devices; Fig. 12 is a sec-, tional elevation of the buffer-actuating mechanism; Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of the feeding and cutting mechanism; and

made to my aforesaid application, Serial No. 533,638, for the specific details of the machine employed by me in my system, since, in many of its essentials, the coin-controlled apparatus is substantially identical with the unit mechanism disclosed in my said pending application. Hence, those arts which are substantially the same as in the unit mechanism of my said pending application, I will refer to only briefly and will, in my particular description, disclose those parts which are new, or have been materially changed in order to adapt my coincontrolled apparatus to my taXicab-call-systern.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the frame of the machine, which is made up of top, bottom, side, back and front plates, these plates being fitted together in any approved manner to form a strong and .durable closure for the mechanism of my invention. A door 2 is hinged to the frontplate and in said door an aperture 3 1s formed, through which is exposed the diallOO plate 4 of a counting device known as an odometer and generally indicated by 5, the

said odometer having applied thereto pawl.

machine, aswill be presently described. The

' bars 15, screwed thereinto, andsome of thesefeeding mechanism operates upon a Web of tickets wound into the form of a cylinder 8, carried by a spool 9, running freely upon a supporting-bar 10, fixed at one end to one side of the frame by means of a hub or bearing 11, said bar extending almost to the 0pposite side of said frame, as shown in Fig. 4, thus holding the web-cylinder in proper position for proper delivery to, and action by, the feeding mechanism. A number of the web-cylinders 8 may be supported upon the bar 10 and held'in reserve for consecutive use; and the cylinder in use and held on the spool 9 is prevented from being removed from the bar 10 by means of the endplate 12, held in place by the loop 13, through which a padlock 14 is extended to prevent the removal of said plate. The flanges of the spool 9 carry a series of radialbars may operate to prevent the removal of the spool or longitudinal movement thereof on the bar 10, the same as in my aforesaid pending application.

In order to obtain the delivery of the tickets from the web-cylinders, the edges of the web are oppositely notched, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and indicated by 16, so that the feeding mechanism may have the proper engagement with said web when said feeding niechanism is operated by the insertion of a coin in the coin-slide 17, which is' provided with an aperture 18, for the reception of a good coin of the proper thickness,

see Figs. 3, 6, and 9. The coinrslid e is providedwith a central, longitudinal groove 19 and with two longitudinal side grooves 20 and 21, the central groove being extended toward the front end of the slide farther than the two side grooves, this extension being for the purpose of accommodating a coin-detector to be presently described. The groove 20 extends to the rear end of the slide and the latter has, adjacent thereto, a V-shaped notch 22, extending transversely thereof. The groove 21 also extends to the rear end of the slide, but said end, at this side, is fore-shortened to provide the angular notch 23, Fig. 9, and the end of the slide at this side is provided with the cam-projection 24, the forward face of which is beveled posite edges 27 of said slide are dovetailed to, cooperate-with a corresponding grooveof the machine and extending transversely across the latter from one side-plate to the x other, and a considerable distance in ad-;

vance of the front-plate 30 of the'machine, see Figs. 2 and 3. The slide-plate 29, beside the slide-liolder 28, is provided with a transparency 31, set in said plate in any suitable manner and located directly over the coin-conveyer shown particularly in Fig. 2 and consisting of an endless chain 32, carrying cups 33 secured to said chain in such manner as to maintain the cups always parallel with the links to which said cups are secured. The actuating mechanism for theconveyer will be presently described.

The frame of the machine, adjacent the transparency 31, is cut out at an angle and has set in said cut-out portion a ticket-re- .ceiving trough 34, see Figs. 1 and 3, secured in position by means of" the supportingbracket 35 and the frame-flange 36, the receiving end of the trough being arranged directly under the feeding and cutting 'me'chanism, as will be presently described. The

coin-slide 17 is provided with a manipulating-knob 37, the shank 38 of which is screwed into the aperture 26 in the coinslide and depends below the latter within the front extension of theframe, and is provided at its lower end with a head 39, to which is rigidly secured the front end of arod 40, the rear end of which passes through a bearing 41, formed on orin an upright 42, secured to the mid-plate 44, extending transversely of the frame and supported on the latter by bars 45, said midplate at one side supporting a bearing-plate 46, extending vertically in the frame and against oneside of the latter, and on the other side supporting a bearing-plate 47, likewise disposed and having an extension 48 at its top. The rod 40 has a collar 49 adjustably secured thereto near its front end, against which bears the front end of the coiled-spring 50, which surrounds the rod 40, and the rear end of which engages the bearing 41, so that, as the coin-slide 17 is pushed into the machine,- the said spring 50 will be compressed and power stored therein to return the coin-slide to its original inoperative position. The bottom of the coin-slide is provided with a series of teeth or serrations 51, with which coiiperatc the upturned ends of the arms 52 of a horse shoe magnet,see Figs. 6 and 8.the bodyportion 53 of which is extended at a rightangle to said arms and is pivoted at 54 to a bracket secured to the bottom of the slideplate 29, a. rearward extension of said body-portion having a weight 56 secured thereto so as to exactly balance the same normally in a substantially horizontal position. With this device in the position shown in Fig. 8, and a disk in the aperture 18 of the slide, which is magnetic in character, the magnet will be immediately attracted resulting in lifting the upturned ends of the arms 52 into position to engage the ratchetteeth 51 on the bottom of the slide, this co operation being maintained as long as the magnetic disk remains in the slide, thus preventing the slide from being pushed into the machinefor a functional operation, all

as fully explained in my aforesaid application.

In the path of movement of the coin,v

when the coin-slide 17 is pushed to the rear for a functional operation, a thick-coin detector is interposed calculated to stop the movement of the slide in the event the coin inserted in the aperture 18 of the slide 17 is not of they proper thickness, in the sense of being too thick, said detector consisting of the fixed finger 57, set in position by the screw 58, passing through the socket in which the finger is retained and impinging against said finger so as to maintain any adjustment given the latter. The lower end of the finger is rearwardly beveled, as shown in Fig. 6, and depends into the central groove 19 of the coin-slide almost to the bottom of said groove. Bearing in mind that the aperture 18 is of suiiicient depth from the bottom of the grooves 19, 20 and 21 to receive a good coin of proper thickness and have the surface of the latter flush with the surface of the bottom of said grooves, it will be readily understood that, if the coin is too thick, it will not be able to pass the stop-linger 57 and, in consequence, the coin-slide will be prevented from being pushed inwardly for a functional operation.

r issuming that the coin placed in the aperture 18 of the coin-slide is too thin, said slide will be stopped in its inward anovement by the stop-pin 59, car ied adjustably in the block 80, adjustably secured to the rearwardly-extending pin 61, secured to the truck 82, journaled at its rear end at 68, a yoke (i l being also journaled at 63 and carrying a gage-roller 65, operating through a -slot in a plate (56 and in the central groove thus lift-the stop-pin 59 out of the path of movement of the cam-lug 24, carried by the rear end of the coin-slide 17 said stop-finger thus preventing theinward movement of the coin-slide. 'If, however, the coin is' of the proper thickness, the pin 59 will be sufficiently lifted to permit the lug 21 to pass and thus permit the slide to be moved rearwardly for a functional movement. thin-coin gage and the thick-coin gage, together with the plate 66, which operates to prevent the coin in the aperture 18 from tilting in passing to the gage-roller 65, are all substantially the same as in my aforesaid application.

When the coin is of proper thickness and passes the thick-coin gage and thin-coin gage, it will, in the rearward movement of the slide 17, be positioned under the ram 69, see Figs. 2 and 6, so as'to undergo a test for tensile strength, this test being imposed by the engagement of the end of slide 17 with and tripping the rod from its seat 71, thus shifting the controlling-plunger 72, against its spring, whereupon the rod will be driven downwardly by the expansion of the ram-spring 73, operating through the cocking-lever 74, journaled at its rear end at t0 the extension 76 of the standard 7 7, in which the ram is guided and operates and also in which the gage-roller is guided and around which the truck 62 is disposed. The cocking-lever 71 is connected to the ram 69 by the shoe 78, which slides upon said lever and is pivotally connected to the said ram, the lever, at its forward end, carrying the bearing 79, provided with a roller 80, operating between the two arms 81 of an angular lever, the lower one of said arms being pivotally connected at 82 to the tripping-rod 70. The angular lever has a vertical portion 83, provided with a rack 81 for cooperating with the mutilated-gear carried by the drivingshaft 86 of the machine, said lever carrying two o}ipositely-extending pins 87 near its upper end, which travel in two opposed grooves 88 in the upright a2, and said lever also being provided, near its lower end, with two other oppositely-e);- tending pins 89, which also travel in said opposed grooves 88, but which are normally at rest in opposed notches 9.0, in said upright 42, for holding the trip-rod 70 in its set or inoperative position, shown in Fig. 2, at rest nponthe seat 71. This mechanism is the same as in my aforesaid application and This ' tripping-rod 70. The downward movement of the angular lever 83 moves the rack there of toward the mutilated-gear 85, thus placing the same in position for cooperation with said gear, as will be presently describeda The bearing 79, see Fig. 11, also .carries a cam-block 91'adjustable thereon in anysuitable manner, which cam-block cooperates with the cap piece 92, pivotally carried onthe angular arm 93 of the lever 94, fulcrumed at its lower endto the bracket 95, carried by the mid-plate 44 of the machine, the cap-piece 92 being under the control of the spring 96, secured by screw 97 to the arm 93, and at its upper end being curved over and bearing upon the top of said cap-piece 92. The lever 94 is joined to lever 98 by the rod 99, pivoted thereto at 100 and screw-threaded to the inner end of the socket 101, pivotally connected at 102 to the lever 94, a jam-nut 103 maintaining any adjustment secured. The lever 98 is fulcrumed to the bearing 104, a vertical extension 105 of which carries at its upper end a head 106, provided-With a bifurcated portion 107, in which is guided the head 108 of the lever 98, the normal position of both lever 98 and 94 being controlled by the spring 109, connected at one end to the lever 98 .and at its other end to a depending-portion of the head 106, the'spring passing through theextension 105.

The downward movement of the cam-block 91 controls the action of the two levers 94 and 98 and their eoiiperation with a clutchcylinder 110, carried by the driving-shaft 86, said cylinder, see Fig. 3, being provided with the cam-groove 111, with which cooperates the pin 112, extending forward from the head 108 of the lever 98, the cooperative action of the said pin and groove causing the lateral shifting of the cylinder 110 upon the driving-shaft 86. A pin 113, carried by the lever 94, cotiperates with the circumferential groove 114 in said cylinder 110, and when said pin 113 is in cotiperation with said groove 114 the cylinder is prevented from having any longitudinal movement on the driving-shaft, this being the normal cotiperative relation of the parts preparatory to a functional operation of the clutch-cylinder 110. The downward movement of the'trip lever 74 also causes the operation of an arm 115, carried by the rockshaft 116, the operation being caused by the roller 117, carried on the same journal with the roller 80 and in position-to engage the arm 115 in the downward movement of the bearing 79. The movement of the arm 115 is imparted to the shaft 116, which also carries the segmental gear 118, which 006perates with the rack-bar 119, having at its opposite end the buffer-post 120, the upper end of which engages with the buffer-cam 121, fixed to, the driving-shaft 86, the latter being thus held from rotation in the normal inoperative position of the machine. The movement of the arm 115 through the devices just described shifts the position of the bulfer-post 120, thus releasing thebuii'ercam 121 and permitting the rotation of the shaft 86, this being simultaneously with the operation of the lever 94, through the cam-block 91 and cap-piece 92,- to shift its pin 113 from the circumferential groove 114 and carrythe pin 112 of the lever 98 into coiiperation with the cam-groove 111 of said cylinder 110, rotation of the shaft'carrying the jog of the cam 111 into cotiperation with the pin 112 to shift. the cylinder longitudi- Inally on the driving-shaft so as to bring its clutch-face 122 into coiiperation with ,the clutch-face 123, carried by a hub which also has the gear 124 thereon, which latter and the clutch run loosely upon the drivingshaft but are prevented from having any longitudinal movement thereon by the pin 125 runningin the groove 126 of hub 127 fixed to the driving-shaft. The action of the cylinder 110 and also of the lever 98 is controlled by a drum carried by the drivingshaft 86 and consisting of the disk 128, having the flange 129 provided with the slot 130, with which cooperates a pin 131, carried bv the head 108 of said lever 98, the pin. 131 extending at a right-angle to the pin 112. The position of the drum on the shaft is such that, when the machine is at rest or inoperative and the cocking-lever 74, through its cam 91, operates upon the lever 94 and shifts the lever 98 into the position shown in Fig. 11, the pin 131' will enter the slot 130 of the flange 129 and will there be held until, through the simultaneous operation of the buffer-post 120 to release the buffer-cam 121, the driving-shaft is turned sufiiciently far to carry the slot 130 beyond the range of movement of said pin 131, which latter, in consequence, will engage the interior surface of the flange 129'and will be held thereby so that the lever 98 vwill aforesaid application and perform substantially the same functions; but, at this point,

a new and important mechanism is brought into action to perform a novel function in a new way, this mechanism constituting one of the important features of my invention and playing an important part in my taxicab-call-system, as will be presently under: stood. The mechanism referred to consists of the cam 132, see Figs. 1 and3, fixed to the hub, which carries the clutch-member 123, and adjacent the latter, or between the latter and the gear 124, this disposition of the cam being preferable according to the present mode of producing my invention. The cam 132 is radial in character and cooperates with an. anti-friction roll 133, carried by the crank-arm 134, fixed to the operating-shaft 135 ofa messengencall 'or signal box 136 of the common and well-known type now in use by either the WVestern Union or Postal Telegraph companies. This callbox being so well known, its details have not been portrayed and will not be deso that its crank-arm 134 will present its handle or roll 133 in the path of movement of the cam 132, the latter being so disposed with reference to the controlling-drum and the slot 130 inthe flange 129 thereof that, after the pin 131 passes under the control of said drum and the cylinder is moved longitudinally on the driving-shaft to bring into coiiperation the clutch-members 122 and 123, the said cam 132 will be driven into engagement with the roll 133 of the crankarm 134 so as to depress the latter substantially to its limit of movement and then pass on and release said crank-arm and allow it to-return to its normal position precisely the same as it would be moved by the human-- hand to operate the same to call a messenger. lhe cam 132, having accomplished this function, will continue'to rotate until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 1, at which moment the driving-shaft will have completed a single rotation or cycle of movement and the clutch-members 122 and 123 will have become=separated and the shaft will have been brought toa dead stop by the buffer-cam engaging with the bufier-post. It will be understood that the call-box 136 is in electrical connection with a receiving station, as is common in all big cities, through the leads 137, which are insulated from the frame by the tubular flanged washer 138. set in the back of the frame, through which washer the leads pass, said M as receiving station corresponding to my signal-station shown in Fig. 14- andindicated by s. 8., in which station the number of the call-box is indicatedupon the tape of the recording orcircuit apparatus a. a.

"The rotation of the driving-shaft 86 causes the rotation of the sprocket-wheel 139, carried thereby at its extreme righthand end, which wheel drives the sprocketchain 140, which encircles, the sprocketwheel 141, journaled in the bearing 142, and in connection with which the pinion 143 rotates in mesh with the gear 144-, in connection with which the sprocket-wheel 145 rotates upon the same journal 146, said sprocket wheel 145 driving the conveyerchain 32 at one end, the other end of which encircles the sprocket-wheel 147, journaled at 148in the bearing 149, the coin-cups 33 being thus caused to travel as heretofore d'escribed; The coin-cups in being tilted, as shown at the right-hand end of Fig. 2, dump the coins carried thereby into the coin-box 150, through the opening thereof, guarded by the back shield 151, supported onthe, beam 152 and by the spring-controlled lid 153, held open by the front guard 154, secured to the front of the machine, the spring-controlled dog 155 being also secured to the front of the machine, as shown in Fig.

.2, and coiiperating with the box-lid to prevent the insertion of the box in closed condition inthe machine, the extension 156 of the front of the machine opposing the withdrawal of the said box with its lid open and operating to close the lid when said box is withdrawn from the machine through the pivoted door 157, this mechanism being all as shown and described in my aforesaid application...'1he driving-shaft 86 also carries the cam 158, which coiiperates with the arm 159, carried by the rock-shaft 160, which has fixed thereto the depending-arm 161, in position to coiiperate with the end of the coin-slide rod 40, said arm 159 being normally spring-depressed into coiiperation with the cam 158, which spring 162 also, in opposition to the action of said cam, re-

- turns the arm 161 to its inoperative position after its engagement with the end of the coin-slide rod, or after it has driven the same forward toward its normal or inoperative position, all as clearly described in my aforesaid application. See Fig. 3.

The driving-shaft also carries a disk 163, which is provided with a face-cam 164, having a jog for cooperation of the pin 165, Figs. 1' and 3, carried by the slide 166, guided in the standard 167, secured to the mid-plate 44 and having pivoted to its rear end the lower end of lever 168, fulcrumed at 169 between its ends and the upper end of which is pivoted at 170 to the rod-extension 171 of the bifurcated slide shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. and indicated by 1'12, which operates in the guide-bearing 173,, secured by plate 174 to the bearing-plate 47, said slide 172 carrying the gear 17 5 in mesh with the gear 176, fixed upon the shaft 177, which also carries a gear 178, which meshes with the gear 124, on the driving-shaft,the shaft 177 being extended transversely in the frame of the machine and journaled in the opposite bearing-plates 46 and 47, see Fig. 5. The bearing 173 hasthe forward extension 179, carrying the pin 180, which operates in groove 181 of the rack-bar 182 and main-' tains the same inan inclined path of travel and 1n a position such as to'enable the gear 175 to cooperate therewith when said gear is bodily shifted forward by the movement of the lever 168, actuated by the cam-groove 164, said lever periodically, according to the position of the jog of said cam-groove, shifting the gear 175 into and out of mesh with the said rack-bar 182, as will be clearly understood upon reference to Fig. 1. This mechanism, together with the feed-chain and cutting mechanism, is substantially the same as in my aforesaid application. Therefore, the following description will be simply indicative of the general characteristics of said mechanisms, since the same form no part of my present invention except in so far as they are in combination with the mechanisms upon which my present invention depends and except inso far as they form a partof my taxicab-call-system.

The rack-bar 182 is fixed to the side of the feedcar 183, provided with anti-friction rolls 184, traveling in the tracks 185, supported by the fixture 186, at the base of which the feed-car normally rests, said car being provided with a hook 187, which cooperates with the endof the leverl88, fulcrumed to the bracket 189 and pivoted at its outer 'end to the trip-rod 190, working in the cutter-frame 191, the lever .188 being under control of the buffer-device 192,

which controls the rod 190 and cushions the action of the feed-car 183 in its descent, all as explained in-my aforesaid The feed-car also carries the pivoted hooks 193, operating upon the oppositely-extending pins 193 of the feed-chain, each pin 193 having extending therefrom at a rightangle a pin194, which engages the opposite notches 8 at the edges of and between the tickets of the web of tickets,see Fig. 5,- so as to'enable the feed chain 195 to periodically advance the ticket-web to deliver the tickets one-by-one. The feed-chain is supported and controlled at opposite ends by the sprocket-wheels 195, as clearly shown in the drawings, to cause the pins 193 to feed the web from the cylinder 8 a predetermined amount for each operation of the machine. In my present invention, the entire feeding mechanism is very much reduced in size and the feed movements are application.

very much decreased on account of the fact that but one ticket is to be delivered by the machine at a time and a limit is placed upon the movement of the feed-chain by the stopdevices 196 so as to prevent overthrow from the force and rapid movement of the feedcar 183,-said stops 196 being operated by the cam-rod 197, with which cooperates the slide 198, carried by the feed-car, see Fig. 1. The downward movement of the feed-car is aided by the tension-device 199, the strap'200' of 'which is hooked to the lower end of the rack-bar 182, as indicated at 201, and as shown in Fig. 4, the tension of the device being forced to the left of Fig. 13 to be set preparatory to a cutting operation by means of the lever 209, fulcrumed between its ends at 210 to a head of the collar 206, and at its lower end pivoted to the link 2 11, in'turn pivoted to the lug 212, carried by the standard 205. The upper end of the lever 209 carries the anti-friction roll 213, which cooperates with the cam 214, carried by the main-shaft 86, against the disk 163, said shaft also carrying adjacent said cam 214 a ratchet-wheel 215, with which cooperates the pawl 216, the two operating to prevent backward movement, under any circumstance, being imparted to the driving-shaft. Operation of the cam 214 causes the spring 204 to becompressed while the rod 203 has been moved to'the left of the cutting-frame 208 preparatory for a cutting operation, such operation being produced by the action of the cutter-edge 217 of said blade in connection with the ledger-blade 218, formed On the frame 191 at the bottom of the rear Wall of 'a slot extending therethrough for the passage of the tickets. To prevent the ticket or web from being displaced or deflected during the feeding operation, a front guard 219 is provided at the base of the feed-chute 220, and the latter is extended as generally indicated at 221 into the slot, so that the ticket will be placed and guided clear to the cutting position, as will be readily understood upon inspecting Fig. 13. The cutting-blade having been forced toits extreme left-hand position, the buffer-device 192 will cause the rod 190 to be forced downwardly into cooperation with the rod 203 by entering the depression 222 in said rod, the latter being thus locked in its forward position against the tendencyof the spring 204 to force the same rearwardly. This mechanism is the same as that disclosed in my aforesaid ap-,

.TDOVQIIIBHt. The said central disk 227 normally rests upon the ticket-web as it is fed along the chute 220, directly over the slot 226, so that, if said web should cease to exist for any reason over the slot 226, the disk 227 would immediately fall into the slot 226, since said. disks are journaled upon the pin 230,- carried at the upper end of the lever 231, fulcrumed at its lower end to the side-plate 232, at 233. \Vhen the disk 227 drops into the slot 226, it operates a crankarm 234, carried by the journal-pin 230 of the feeler, said crank-arm being connected to, the rod 235, the lower end of which is connected to the crank-arm 236, carried by the rock-shaft 237, journaled in the frame 77 and in an end bearing 77, supported by the slide-plate 29, which carries, adjacent said bearing 77. the crank-arm 23S, extending rearwardly and carrying at its rear end the pivoted stop-finger 239. which depends within the frame of the truck (32 in the path of travel of the cam lug 24 of the coin-slide 17. ()bviously, if the tickets fail at the feeler. as before described. and the disk 22? thereof drops into the slot 226 of the chute extension 225, the shaft 237 will be moved so that thearm 238 will drop the finger 239 into the path of movement of the cam-lug, said linger. however. being normally held out of the path of movement of said lug, as will be readily understood. The operation of this device is substantially the same as in my aforesaid application and its functions are to prevent the slide from being moved inwardly under the conditions stated. \Vhen the coin-slide has been moved clear to the rear for a functional operation, as previously described, the pawl 240, carried by the rock-shaft 241, will cooperate with the V-shaped notch 22 in the end of the coin-slide. and thus hold said slide temporarily against retraction by the spring 50, surrounding the rod 40, the slide being released by said pawl through the medium of the arm 242, cooperating with the buffercam 121, when the latter has completed substantially a half revolution, said arm being kept normally depressed by means of the spring 243, connected thereto and to any suitable stationary part of the machine. Likewise, when the slide is moved to the rearward extreme, as just suggested, its aperture 18 is brought under theram '69, where the coin carried thereby is subjected to the blow of the ram, the blow falling upon the coin, which is at this time sus-- tained by the throat-plate 244, provided with two opposite seats for the coin directly over the coin-escape aperture 245 in the slide-plate 29, the throat-plate, after the ram has struck the coin. being shifted longitudinally or transversely of the slide-plate by means of the lever 246, pivoted to said throat-plate at one end through the con necting-plate 247, and fulcrumed between its ends at 248 to a fixture of the machine and at its other end carrying a pin 249. running in the peripheral cam-groove 250 of the disk 163, carried by the main shaft 86, see Fig. 3. The cam of the groove being a lateral jog to move the lever laterally upon its fulcrum 248 and thereby positively reciprocate the throat-plate 244 to drop the coin through the escape-aperture 245 into the chute 251, from which the coin drops into one of the coin-cups 33 ot' the conveyer.

Another important feature of my invention is the combination of a spring-nmtor with my coin controlled apparatus and the manner in which the two are combined for operation in carrying out my taxicab-call system. That is.to say, beneath the midplate 44, and sustained by the bed-plate of the machine, is a box or casing 252, in which a spring-motor 253 of suitable construction is contained, the driving-shaft 254; of said motor carrying a gear 255, in mesh with a pinion 256, carried by the stud-shaft 257, which also carries a gear 258, in mesh with the gear 259, carried by a stud-shaft. which gear in turn meshes with the gear 2(30, carried by the driving-shaft of the machine adjacent the sprocket-wheel 139. see Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The gears between the spring-motor and the driving-shaft ot' the machine are so proportioned as to cause the rapid motion of the motor to be considerably reduced so that the speed of the driving-shaft of the machine will be considerably less than that of the motor. However, it will be under stood that the speed of the machine may be the speed of the motor, or greater than that of themotor. if desired, by simply changing the proportions of the gears. The spring motor in my present invention is used in place of the electric motor illustrated in my aforesaid application, since it cheapens and simplifies the construction and operates with sufficient rapidity for all purposes in my taxicab system. Moreover, the use of the number of parts of the machine and makes the latter, so to speak, self-contained. Obviously, the spring-motor is constantly'ready to drive the main shaft of the machine when the latter is released for a functional operation, or, in fact, for any operation. That is to say, as will be presently shown, the main shaft may be driven for a complete revolution and-brought to a sto without producing a feed operation, which will deliver a ticket.

Having thus described the details of my invention, the following description of the mode of operation of my apparatus will be readily understood: The operator of the coin-controlled machine, being at the theater, for example, and desiring a taxlcab, steps into the lobby where one of my apparatus is located, the same being acall station and designated in Fig. 14 as a. 8., and places a sliver fifty-cent piece in the aperture 18 of the coin-slide 17. Then, grasping the knob 37 of said coin-slide he presses the latter inwardly, or rearwardly, and, since it is a. good coin of the proper denomination, the same passes the thick coin-detector 57 and also passes under the gageroll 65, resulting in lifting the stop-pm 59 of the truck 62, thus permitting the end of the coin-slide 17 to pass and said slide to be moved to its rearward extreme. This brings the .coin in aperture 18 directly under the ram 69 and on the throat-plate 244, the completion of the rearward movement of the slide 17' tripping the rod 70 from its seat 71,

thus permitting the spring 73 of the ram to drive the cocking-lever 74 downwardly, which in turn, by the bearing 79 and its fixtures, drives the lever 83 downwardly so that its rack 84 will be in position to be engaged by the mutilated gear 85 when the driving-shaft 86 has rotated sufliciently for the purpose. The downward movement of the cocking-lever 7 4 carries the cam-block 91 into engagement with the cap-piece 92, resulting in moving the lever 94 toward the front of the machine, see Fig. 11, and likewise moving the lever 98 forward, by reason of the intermediate connection 99-101. The movement of the two levers 94 and 98 withdraws pin 113 from the circumferential groove 114 of the clutch-cylinder 110 and enters the pin 112 into the cam-groove 111 of said cylinder and simultaneously therewith enters the pin 131 into the controllingdrum through the slot 130 of the flange 129. See Figs. 3 and 7. At the same time, the roll 117 of the bearing 79 of the cocking-lever 74 operates upon the arm 115, thus moving the rock-shaft 116 and the segmental-gear 118 meshing with the rack-bar 119, thus moving the buffer post 120 from under the buffercam 121. ThlS gives immediate control of the main or driving shaft 86 to the springmotor, which, through the gearing 255, 256, 258, 259 and 260 drives the main shaft 86 in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 1, 2 and 12. The driving-shaft being thus rotated, the

' cooperation of the pin 112, with the camgroove 111 of. the clutch-cylinder 110, Wlll drive the latter longitudinally of the driving-shaft 86, at the same time said cylinder is rotated by said shaft, thus bringing the clutch-member 122 into driving engagement with the clutch-member 123 with an easy, smooth, sliding movement. Rotation of the cam 132,-carried by member 123, in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, will cause it to engage the roller or handle 133 of the crankarm 134, of the call or signal-box 136, the cam depressing said crank-arm 134 to substantially its full extent. At this point, the cam 132 will pass the roller. 133 and permit the crank-arm 134 to return to its normal position, the said crank-arm thus having a complete oscillation during which a signal is transmitted through the leads 137 and recorded on the circuit apparatus, 0. a. Fig. 14, located at the signal station which is indicated in the latter figure by s. 8., the record made bein that of the number of the callbox 136. Continued rotation "of the drivingshaft causes the pinion 124 on said shaft to drive the gear 178 of thefeed-shaft 177, the latter in turn driving the gear 17 6, which meshes with the gear 175, carried by the slide 172, actuated by the lever 168, vibrated by the cam-groove 164 of the disk 163,

causes the gear 17 5 to be moved into cooperation with the rack-bar 182, secured to the feed-car 183, the said gear 175, in its rota tion, lifting the said car 183 against the tension imposed upon it by the band 200 of the tension-device 199. Continued rotation of the driving-shaft causes the rearward movement of thelever168, thus retracting the gear 17 5 from driving engagement with the rack-bar 182, the latter and the feed-car being thus released, whereupon the tension-device 199 assumes control and, coupled with the weight of the car 183, the latter is returned with some force to its normal posi tion. During its return movement the hooks 193 thereof engage the opposite ends of one of the pins 193*, of the feed-chain 195, thus traversing the latter and causing the pins 194 thereof to feed the ticket-web 8, as before explained, the requisite ei ttent forthe delivery of a ticket and preparatory to being ward the front of the machine, thus compressing the spring 204 about the rod 203, which is moved forward by said lever so that the cutting-blade 208 has its cutting-edge 217 located in advance of the ticket aperture in the cutter-frame 191, the cutting-blade being thus cocked or set ready for a cutting operation and the ticket being free to pass through the aperture in said cutter-frame 191 and also the slot 209 in the cutting-blade 208, preparatory to being severed from the web. As the rod 203 moves forward, the bar 190 snaps into the recesses 222 thereof under control of the bufi'eudeviee 192 and through the medium of the lever 188, the cutting-blade being thus held until the bar 190 is tripped to release the same, which occurs when the feed-car descends, bringing its hook-extension 187 into engagement with the lever 188, thus withdrawing the bar 190 from the recess 222. and permitting the spring 204 to expand and drive the rod 203 rearwardly. This action causes the cuttingedge 217 of the cutting-blade 208 to cooperate with the cutting-edge or ledger-blade 218, as shown in Fig. 13, to sever a ticket 540 from the web 8. This entire operation has been permitted by reason of the control of the levers 98 and 94, by the flange 129 of the drum, said flange, by holding-pin 131, maintaining the control of the pin 112, operating in the cam-groove 111 of the cylinder 110, thus keeping the two clutch-members 122 and 123 in driving relation; and, the controlling action of the drum has been permitted by reason of the fact that the coin was a good one and withstoodthe blow of the ram, thus sustaining the ram in position such that the cam-block maintained control of the lever 94 through its cap-piece 92, sufficiently long for the slot 130, in the flange 129 of the controlling-drum to pass beyond the pin 131, so that the latter could not get beyond control of said flange. The ram was thus sustained by reason of the fact that the coin was neither driven through the throat-plate 244, nor shifted therefrom by the movement of the latter, said movement not occurring until after the controlling drum has assumed control of the said pin 131. At the proper time, the cam-groove 250 of the disk 163, carriedby the drivingshaft, causes the operation of the lever 246 to shift the throat-plate 244, so that the coin supported thereby under the ram 69 may be dropped or forced into the chute 251, through the escape-aperture 245 of the slideplate 29, the coin running down the chute and dropping into a cup 33 of the coin-con- \'ever, which carries said coin to the coinbox 150. The coin-slide has been held by the pawl 240 under control of the arm 242 during this period, so that the ram and throat-plate could perform their stated functions and, said functions being performed, the pawl 240 is lifted by the buffercam 121, operating upon the arm 242, thus allowing the spring to assume control ofthe coin-slide 17 in connection with the rod 40 of which the arm 16 1 operates, said arm being operated by the cam 158, arm 159 and rock-shaft 160, said arm 161 being driven into-engagement with said rod 40, resulting in accelerating the movem'ent of the coinslide to its normal position, returning the same Positively for a portion of the distance of said return movement and preventing, during this operation, the coin-slide from being pushed rearwardly beyond the stoppin 59, thus preventing a repetition of the functional movements of the machine without placing another coin in the coin-slide. In the meantime, the ram is retracted and reset during the movement of the mutilatedgear 85, engaging with the rack 84 of the tripping-lever 83, which latter is lifted vertically and in turn lifting the rod 70, the cocking-lever 74 and the ram 69, the tripping-rod 70, when raised sufficiently, being forced forward by the plunger 72, so that the notch in the lower end of said tripping-rod can come to rest upon the seat 71, the pins 89 of the tripping-lever 83 simultaneously entering the notches 90, in the opposite walls of the upright 42, the tripping-rod thus reset holding the tripping-lever, the cocking-lever and the ram in set position preparatory for another operation and also holding the spring 73 of said ram under compression.

The operation of the machine just described gives to the operator his ticket of Fig. 10, bearing the identification number 540, which he holds to show the chauffeur and which represents fifty-cents and entitles him to the first half-mile of transportation in the taxicab. This operation also, as before stated, has transmitted a signal to the circuit-apparatus c. a. in the signal-station s. 8., Fig. 14, and, as before stated, has recorded on the tape of the circuit-apparatus the number of the call-box 136. The operator at the station 8. 8. immediately telegraphs, by the telegraphic transmitter, teleg. trns. to the receiving station or central oflice c. 0. of the taxicab company a message indicating that a call has come from the call-station 136. The operator at 0. 0. receiving themessage, by telegraphic receiver, teleg. rec. immediately consults his record and finds that the last call from station 136 was numbered 539, whereupon he goes to the telephone transmitter telep. trns., Fig. 14, and rings up the'garage-station g, which is nearest to the call-station 136, and informs the operator at said station g of the number of the station from which the call has been sent and gives him the identification number 540. These two numbers the operator at the station 9 will place on a card, hand the same to a chauffeur, who will immediately start for the call station 136, the location of which will either be known to him, or can be ascertained by consulting a chart, or the location of Which is given him by the operator of station 9, who knows the same, or has ascertained it by consulting said chart. The chauffeur, upon arriving at call-station 136, finds the operator who made-the call awaiting him and identifies himby comparing the number on his ticket with the number on the ticket delivered to said operator by the ma chine. Thus the chaufi'eur knows he has the right party and the latter knows thatthe services of that taxicab belong to him. In order that the taxicab com wan may not be swindled, the chauffeur will 0 serve the general rule of going to the apparatus and looking through the transparency 31 to see if a good coinof proper denomination has been placed in the machine.

According to my system, a number of apparatus indicated by c. 8., and having consecutive numbers, as indicated by 136 to 136, may be located at different points in a large city and all connected with a single signal-station, s. 8., or the call-stations and signal-stations may be arranged in districts for convenience as desired and as indicated in Fig. 14, and in the event of the division into districts as indicated, the sigual-stations of all the districts will be in communication with the central oltice e. 0. of the taxicab company, where all records and charts will be kept which are necessary for the. proper identification of the stations, as well as to properly conduct the business of said oilice. The said central otlicc will likewise be in communication with and control of all the garages, irrespective of where they are located, and said garages, obviously, will be from time to time located in neighborhoods central to the groups of call-stations or districts in which they are located.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that my inventionincludes the idea of means, and comprehends the combination of apparatus. which may be designated as call-station, signal-station, receiving station or central-oliice, and garage. Furthermore, my invention, in addition to the apparatus grouped as above described and as shown in the drawings, comprehends, it should be understood, thev fundamental idea of a system by means of which a taxicab or other vehicle can be called, or ob-- tained, by means of a signal or message transmitted from one station to another, thus obviating the necessity for telephoning for a cab and the delay, confusion and cost incident thereto; also to do away with out-' cab, for example, is desired for service, a

coin can be deposited in my coin-controlled apparatus, and the latter then set in motion station identified by a given number which.

will be charted. The apparatus, thus operated, will actuate the call-box, the signal through which will be transmitted to a predetermined signal-station where the number of the call-station will be indicated by signal-bells and also be recorded, in usual manner, upon the tape of a circuit apparatus. \Vith this record of the callstation, the, operator at the signal-station will immediately telegraph the call-stationnumber to the central ofiice of a taxicab company, from. which oflice a telephonic message will be transmitted to the nearest cab-stand or garage, from which latter a vehicle will be immediately sent to the callstation, 01' place where the coin was deposited and from which the call originated.-

Thus the operator, who desires a taxicab, has only to deposit a coin in my apparatus, whereupon his desire becomes known at the central ohice of a taxicab company, the attendant at which point makes it his business to obtain a cab, from a nearby garage, and send it at once to the call-station where the operator is awaiting it. This avoids the necessity of looking up the phone number of a garage, or cab-stand, or of phoning to first one place and then another until his call for a cab is satisfied. The whole matter of locating a cab and obtaining its services is put up to the taxicab company at once, through the medium of my system and by the operation of my apparatus, and said companfs central office will phone one garage after another until a cab is obtained and sent to the call-station. As an auxiliary to this fundamental system, a system of identification is employed; that is to say, when the operator, at the call-station, which may be numbered 136, for example, deposits his coin in the apparatus, he has delivered to him, by the apparatus, a ticket containing a certain number,-5-l0, for example. A chart of numbers of all call-stations and a record of the numbers of tickets, as delivered by each call-station, are kept at the central ofiice, that when the apparatus is operated, by the deposit of a coin as stated, the number of the call-station, 13(S,- is transmitted by the call-box to, and recorded by, the circuit-apparatus at the signal-statiom'the operator at which latter telegraphs the number to the central oflice. Here the operator takes the number of the call-station, consults the record for the previous ticket-number delivered therefrom and then telephones the next number in sequence,5l0,as well as the call-stationnumber, or garage. The chauffeur at this point is then given a card containing the call-station-number and the ticket-number. lVith this card, he immediately starts for the callstation where the operator is awaiting him. Identification is immediately had by a comparison of the two tickets, the one held by the chauffeur and the other held by the operator. In this way, the operator is sure to get his cab, no one else can claim the services of the chauffeur, and the latter knows thereby to whom his services belong. Assuming that the operator has deposited a good coin of the proper denomination in the apparatus, for example, a. half dollar, he will be entitled to the services of the cab for the first mile, or according to the regulation and charges of the cab-company. The chauffeur will thus accept the ticket, ob-

tained by the operator from the call-station machine, as payment for such part of the service and will turn in the same to the taxicab company in accounting for his fares. Among the many advantages in this system, it is noted that for every fare which the chauffeur takes he must first get a ticket and thereby a complete check is kept upon him. Furthermore, the cab-company will be protected as the chauffeur will be certain that the operator of the apparatus is entitled to his services by examining the apparatus at the call-stand to see whether said apparatus was operated by a good coin of the proper denomination. That is to say, the chauffeur, upon arriving at the callstand, will immediately go to the apparatus and examine the same to see whether a good coin has been deposited therein. Finding that a-goo'd coin has been so deposited and making a comparison of his ticket with that of the operator, he will immediately render the latter the proper service.

llaving thus described my invention. what I claim and de ire to secure by Letters Patent is: e i

1. A taxicab call apparatus having. in

combination, means for delivering a ticket;

a call-device having a spring-controlled reciprocating actuator; and means. controlled by the ticket-delivering means, for momen- 136,to the nearest taxicab stand delivering means; means connecting the shaft with the delivering means for actuating the latter: a call-device having a springcontrolled actuator; means carried by said shaftfor driving said actuator against its spring control; a power-device for operating said shaft; and means cooperating with said shaft for normally holding it from operation.

1. A taxicab call apparatus having, in combination, a rotary driving-shaft; ticketdelivering means; means connecting the shaft with the delivering means for actuating the latterya motor connected to said shaft for driving the same; a call-device having a reciprocating actuator; means normally preventing the motor from actuating the shaft; means connecting the shaft and actuator of the call-device for operating the latter; and means cooperating with the preventing means for enabling the motor to actuate the shaft.

5. In combination, in a taxicab call system, a call-device having a reciprocating actuator; mechanism for delivering a ticket; means connecting the actuator and delivering mechanism for actuating the call-device; a signal-station; and an electric circuit including the call-device and signal-station therein, whereby when the call-device is actuated its signal will be transmitted to said station.

. 6. In combination, in a taxicab call system, a call-station, including a ticket-delivering apparatus and a call-device interconnected for conjoint operation; a signalstation; andoperative connections whereby, when a ticket is delivered, the call-device will transmit a signal between the two stations.

7. A taxicab call system having, in combination, means for delivering a ticket; a

call-device; means for simultaneously actui ating said means and device including a controlling means for said device; a receiving station; and connections between said station and device for transmitting a signal from the latter to the receiving station, substantially as described.

8. A taxicab call system having, in combination, an apparatus provided with means for delivering a ticket therefrom, the two apparatus having interacting means enabling a message to be sent at or about the time the ticket is delivered: and an electric circuit including a receiving station and connections from the transmitting apparatus to said station. whereby the latter may receive said message.

9. A taxicab call apparatus having, in combination, a driving-shaft; a motor and connections therefrom for driving said shaft, said connections including means whereby the speed of the motor and the speed of the shaft may be different; a calldevice; means carried by said shaft for actuating the call-device; and a reciprocating device and connection therefrom for enabling said shaft to actuate said device.

10. A taxicab call system which includes mechanically recording a predetermined number transmitted from a predetermined station; the transmission of said number to a given point; the combination of said number with another number taken from a predetermined record at saidpoint; and the use of said combination of numbers to identify the location of said station from number transmitted from a predetermined station and simultaneously delivering a ticket at said station; the transmission of said number to a given point; the combination of said number with anothernumber taken from a predetermined record at said point; and the use of said combination of numbers to identify the location of said station from which the first number was transmitted and the ticket delivered; and also to establish a check on the operation of said station.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIAS H. KELLEY.

Witnesses:

M. HERSKOVITZ, M. E. HILLOCK. 

